Plot Analysis Summary

Bobby Roberts spends twenty years in an insane asylum, escapes, and returns to his hometown intending to deliver his wrath as the Milkman.

Story Structure — 2 Plot Phases

Bobby kills his mother with a milk bottle and spends twenty years in an insane asylum. The summary provides no further detail about his time there.

Twenty Years in the Asylum — Bobby spends twenty years in an insane asylum after killing his mother with a milk bottle. Characters: The Milkman Location: Insane asylum

Bobby escapes from the asylum and returns to his hometown. He intends to deliver his wrath as the Milkman.

Escape from the Asylum — Bobby escapes from the asylum after twenty years. Characters: The Milkman Location: Insane asylum
Return to Hometown — Bobby returns to his hometown intending to deliver his wrath as the Milkman. Characters: The Milkman Location: Bobby's hometown

Fatal Violence — Bobby kills his mother with a milk bottle.
- Milk Bottle Killing — Bobby beats his mother to death with a milk bottle.
- Asylum Sentence — Bobby spends twenty years in an insane asylum.
Asylum Escape — After twenty years, Bobby escapes from the insane asylum.
- Twenty Years Pass — The summary states that Bobby spends twenty years in the asylum.
- Bobby Escapes — Bobby escapes from the institution.
Hometown Return — Bobby returns to his hometown after escaping.
- Return Home — Bobby goes back to his hometown.
- Adopted Identity — Bobby returns under the identity of the Milkman.
Vengeful Intent — Bobby intends to deliver his wrath as the Milkman.
- Declared Wrath — The summary describes Bobby's intent to deliver his wrath.
- Milkman Persona — The Milkman is the identity Bobby adopts on returning to town.